UCLA kicks out No. 1 seed UNC

Jun. 21, 2013

Written by

Associated Press

OMAHA, NEB. — Pat Valaika’s two-run double gave UCLA some cushion, record-setting closer David Berg survived a rocky ninth inning and UCLA defeated top-seeded North Carolina 4-1 Friday night to move to the championship round of the College World Series.

The Bruins (47-17) will begin the best-of-three finals Monday against Mississippi State, which eliminated Oregon State with a 4-1 win in the afternoon.

The Tar Heels (59-12) twice loaded the bases in the ninth against Berg but came away with only one run, with the game ending on Landon Lassiter’s flyout to center.

Grant Watson (9-3) allowed four hits in six innings.

Carolina’s Kent Emanuel (11-5) gave up five singles in six innings.

UCLA opened the CWS with 2-1 victories over LSU and North Carolina State.

The Bruins, with eight total runs, matched 1976 Eastern Michigan for fewest by a team in the metal-bat era that won its first three CWS games.